Are you using wood packaging?

If your consignment is shipped to New Zealand on wooden pallets, or wood has been used to package any part of your consignment, you'll also need to comply with the requirements for importing wood packaging.

Meet biosecurity requirements

Biosecurity requirements are detailed in documents called import health standards. The import health standard (IHS) for plant-origin animal feeds will tell you what you need to do to import your product into New Zealand. Read it thoroughly to make sure you can comply with all of the requirements.

Fill out a questionnaire if importing stock feed

Meet ACVM requirements

Animal feed and dietary supplements are classed as oral nutritional compounds (ONCs) under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act 1997. Many ACVM products have to be registered.

Normally, food and dietary supplements for animals are authorised under the Act by an 'exemption under regulations'. This allows you to import, manufacture, sell, or use the product without registration if you:

Imported feed commodities

Request a class determination, if needed

You may need to get a class determination letter from MPI to confirm your product is exempt from ACVM registration. A fee applies, and you'll need to give the letter to MPI border staff when your goods arrive. This is only needed if the product isn't obviously exempt, for example, if the label suggests the product has a therapeutic effect.

Ask MPI if you're unsure

Prepare documents before your consignment arrives

Make sure you have all the necessary approvals and documentation before your goods arrive in New Zealand. The documents you may need include:

a copy of your permit, if required

the manufacturer's certificate, if applicable

the treatment certificate, if applicable

class determination letter, if required.

The IHS has more information about these documents.

Comply with on-arrival inspections

An MPI inspector will check your product and documentation when they arrive in New Zealand.

The inspection will depend on whether your goods are arriving bulk in vessels, bulk in containers, or bagged. Some consignments are tested (for example, to make sure seeds aren't viable), and routine audits are done to test for the presence of ruminant protein contamination.

Inspections also check if your product is authorised under the ACVM Act.

Step 3

Getting your import documents

How you know you've met MPI requirements.

Your animal feed will be cleared for entry into New Zealand when you have:

completed all the steps and met all the IHS and ACVM requirements

included the correct supporting documentation from the exporting country

had your animal feed inspected and given clearance by an MPI inspector.

If your product doesn't comply on arrival

If your animal feed arrives without meeting the IHS and ACVM requirements, it will be held at the port of arrival. If there is any doubt whether your product is authorised under the ACVM Act, it won't be cleared.

Following assessment, an MPI inspector will advise you to do one of the following:

treat the product

reship the product to another destination

destroy the product

ask for the product to be held until you can confirm it is authorised.